Somerset flood warnings in place ahead of weekend of thunderstorms and rain
A flood warning for Somerset has been issued as the county is gearing up for two thunderstorms and then a rain warning. The Met Office and the Environment Agency has issued the warnings for the county as a weather deluge of rain is expected.
The first yellow weather warning for thunderstorms is in place from midday until 8pm today, Friday, September 20. A second thunderstorm warning from 1am until 23.59pm on Saturday, September 21.
Now a third warning has been issued. The Devon-based weather forecasters have issued a yellow weather warning for rain for the whole of the South West on Sunday, lasting from midnight until 11.59pm.
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And it comes as the Environment Agency has now issued a flood warning for part of the county. A flood warning for Somerset coast at Porlock Weir is currently in place ahead of the high tide this evening, with locals urged to act now. There are also flood alerts in place for the Somerset coast at Clevedon and the Somerset coast at Portishead and Portbury Dock
The warning says: “The criteria for this flood warning will be just met for the tide tonight and so there is the risk of flooding to the most vulnerable properties in Porlock Weir. Consider activating any property flood protection products.
“Flooding is possible two hours each side of the high tide at 9:30 PM tonight. Areas most at risk include the coastline between Gore Point and Hurlstone Point including properties on the lockside, businesses around the Harbour Masters office, Gibraltar Cottages and other low lying properties on the B3225 at Porlock Weir.
“Tidal conditions are expected to improve tomorrow morning but the flood alert will remain in force. The forecast high water at Hinkley Point is 9:30 PM on Friday 20/09/2024 with a level of 6.86 mAODN and North-Easterly force 5 winds. (mAODN is height above average sea level.) We are closely monitoring the situation and closing flood gates.”
And it comes as a flood warning for Somerset coast at Portishead and Portbury Dock, seafront properties and Portbury Dock areas, has been issued at 3pm on Friday.
The warning says: "The criteria for this flood warning will be just met for the tide tonight and so there is the risk of flooding to the most vulnerable properties. Areas most at risk include the coastline between Portishead Point and Avonmouth including Portishead Ashlands Nature Reserve and the Royal Portbury Dock. Consider activating any property flood protection products. Flooding is possible two hours each side of the high tide at 10 PM tonight.
"The tidal forecast peak level at Avonmouth is 7.93 mAODN at 10 PM tonight, Friday 20/09/2024, with north-easterly force 5 winds. (mAODN is height above average sea level.) Tidal conditions are expected to improve after this high tide and further flooding is not expected. We are closely monitoring the situation and closing flood gates. Be careful along beaches, promenades, coastal footpaths and roads as large waves and sea spray could be dangerous. We will remove this message by 11:00 AM on Saturday.
"Flood warning area: Coastline between Portishead Point and Avonmouth including Portishead Ashlands Nature Reserve and the Royal Portbury Dock."
And it comes as the Met Office predicts a 90 per cent of thunderstorms in Somerset between 3pm and 5pm on Friday. There is a 90 per cent chance of heavy rain on Saturday - before an 80 per cent chance on Sunday, with the early hours of the morning set to see the worst of the rainfall.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Jason Kelly said: “Thundery downpours have developed across parts of southern England, and will last into Friday evening, bringing frequent lightning, gusty winds, hail, and spells of heavy rain. The risk of thunderstorms persists into the weekend with potentially longer spells of heavy rain for some along with a continued risk of hail and lightning accompanying the most intense storms. Parts of the Midlands, southern England and east Wales appear at greatest risk of seeing these conditions.
“The warnings cover the areas of the country most at risk of seeing thunderstorms but not everyone within a warning area will experience a thunderstorm. For many much of the time it will remain dry.”
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Harris added: “The area of persistent and at times heavy rain that we are expecting to have developed by the end of Sunday will most likely continue for some parts of southern UK through at least the first part of Monday, before starting to clear eastwards. By this time however, confidence falls sharply in terms of both its exact location, and rainfall amounts. We are keeping a further warning for Monday under review, so please keep up to date with the latest forecast for your area.”
The Met Office said: "A few thundery showers may be present across southern and southeast England early on Friday, but from the middle of the day they are expected to develop more widely within the warning area.
"Whilst some places will remain dry, where thundery showers do occur, they will bring frequent lightning, gusty winds, potentially some large hail, as well as brief spells of heavy rain. 15-25 mm of rain fall may fall within an hour, with a very small chance of 30-40 mm falling in 3 hours; the latter most likely across southwest England. Showers will tend to ease and fade during Friday evening."
It's much of the same for Saturday's thunderstorm warning, although the Met Office warns "there is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life."
For Sunday’s rain warning, they said: “Areas of heavy rain will bring the potential for disruption on Sunday.”
SOUTH WEST FORECAST
Today:
Cloudy to start with the best of the morning sunshine in the far southwest. Showers soon spreading from the east through the afternoon, at times heavy and thundery. Feeling breezy in the showers, but warm in any sunshine. Maximum temperature 22 °C.
Tonight:
Turning drier this evening, with clear skies developing widely across the region, though some patchy hill fog across the Moors. By dawn, showers quickly developing along the southern coast. Minimum temperature 13 °C.
Saturday:
Another day of sunshine and showers, these occasionally heavy, and at times thundery, spreading northwards through the day. Feeling warm in any sunshine with generally light winds outside the showers. Maximum temperature 20 °C.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
A band of persistent rain pushes north-eastwards through Sunday and Monday, heavy and perhaps thundery at times. Drier and brighter by Tuesday, though feeling notably cooler in a northerly wind.